Lesson 4.5 - Land Breezes

It is a cool summer evening.  You are on a beach and you feel a warm breeze blowing.  Where is the breeze coming from?  Can it be blowing from the water towards the beach? 

Read Land Breeze on page 95 in your textbook. Then, answer these questions.

Question 1. What is the temperature of the air above the land in the diagram 5.13?

Question 2. What is the temperature of the air above the water in the diagram 5.13?

Question 3. Why is the diagram showing the air rising above the water?

Question 4. Why is the diagram showing the air dropping down above the land?

Question 5. Which way is the wind blowing in a land breeze?

Question 6. When does a land breeze blow, during the day or at night?

Question 7. Which is stronger, a sea breeze or a land breeze?  Why?

 

Check your answers with those that follow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answers to Questions:

Question 1. What is the temperature of the air above the land in the diagram 5.13?

The temperature above the land is 12°C.  You can see this temperature on the left side of the diagram just to the right of the letter C.

Question 2. What is the temperature of the air above the water in the diagram 5.13?

The temperature above the water is 18°C.  You can see this temperature on the water to the right of  the letter C.

Question 3. Why is the diagram showing the air rising above the water?

The air is warmer above the water than it is above the land.  Warmer air is less dense and will rise.

Question 4. Why is the diagram showing the air dropping down above the land?

The air is cooler above the land than it is above the water.  Cooler air is more dense and will sink.

Question 5. Which way is the wind blowing in a land breeze?

The wind is blowing from the land towards the water in a land breeze.

Question 6. When does a land breeze blow, during the day or at night?

A land breeze usually blows at night.

Question 7. Which is stronger, a sea breeze or a land breeze?  Why?

A sea breeze is stronger than a land breeze because there is a larger temperature difference.  Sea breeze (28°C - 18°C) is compared to land breeze (18°C - 12°C).

 


Go to the next page to continue Lesson 4.